Synova SA of Lausanne, Switzerland, a supplier of laser solutions for the semiconductor, electronics, flat-panel display and industrial micromachining industries, will increase its presence in Korea by opening a new micromachining center (MMC) in Seoul. The MMC, scheduled to open in March, will serve as a competence center for demonstration, sample testing and application development. Synova previously opened centers in the Silicon Valley, Boston, Taiwan and Japan. The company also announced tool orders from a Korean organic LED (OLED) manufacturer and a US-based semiconductor manufacturer's Korean facility. The first order was for Synova's laser stenciling system for OLED mask manufacturing and the second for its laser grinding system for thin-wafer edge grinding. The orders will replace traditional cutting and grinding methods used in each of the manufacturers' respective processes.